By David Wynne, Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach
"I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."
In addition to KAIROS,
the Prison Committee at Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach, also
includes a smaller ministry to the Federal Correction Complex (FCC) in
Petersburg. The federal ministry is affiliated with the Prison
Visitation Society; a national organization that specializes in visits
to federal facilities. Although PVS ministers to all facilities, the
principle ministry is to inmates with very long sentences for whom the
family has stopped visiting.
There are many thousands
of inmates nationwide waiting to have a visitor. At Petersburg, in our
diocese, there are hundreds. We operate under the auspices of the Rt.
Rev. J. Magness, Bishop of Federal Ministries. We have no
qualifications, no special skills; we simply go.
Similar to the Stephen
Ministry, we simply provide confidential, non-judgmental listening. Our
inmates can be Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Atheist, even Wiccan. In
every case, they yearn for a kind presence and a contact outside the
environment they endure. Although we do not actively witness, nearly
always, sooner or later, God opens a door and when He does, we walk
through it.
Last week I visited
Bobby and Robert. The drive up to the FCC near Hopewell takes about two
hours. Bobby is from Idaho, a former city parks worker; nearing the end
of a twenty-five year sentence. His family can't afford the trip east
but he only has five years to go. Bobby says he is a Wiccan, but he
covets our prayers. When he gets out, God will be waiting. Robert is
from New Hampshire, was a flooring contractor. He's 51, four years
through a 33 year sentence. His parents are infirm and can't get down.
He is bright, hopeful, planning his life after. During the sunshine of
their hope and the blackness of their despair, we visit.
If you have some time to
contribute, the need is great and every volunteer reports the greater
blessing is always theirs. Contact David Wynne at diw1022@gmail.com.
